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Tara Kitchen Visit our award winning Schenectady restaurant to get a taste of Morocco! The story of Tara Kitchen begins…with a love story.
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Owners Aneesa Waheed and Muntasim Shoaib met in Marrakech, Morocco and after a whirlwind romance, married under starry cobalt skies on a balmy North African night, in the shadow of the Atlas mountains. They left their desert paradise for Aneesa’s hometown of Schenectady—and brought with them their love of Morocco’s rich cuisine and culture. In Tara Kitchen, the only Moroccan restaurant in the capital district, they share that love with a loyal and growing clientele. The couple opened the restaurant in 2012, after nearly three years of offering authentic ethnic food in the Schenectady and Troy farmers markets. Aneesa creates exotic yet accessible dishes—from fragrant tagines to delicious couscous—infused with the complex blend of spices and ingredients unique to Moroccan food. After receiving numerous requests for sauces to cook with at home, Aneesa created the Tara Kitchen line of distinctive jarred sauces that are free of gluten, nuts, soy, dairy, sesame and in some cases, salt and oil. They are available now on our website and at select Northeast Whole Foods stores, Price Chopper, Niskayuna Food CoOp and Honest Weight Food CoOP.

There are some places you visit — and then there are places you experience.This November, I’m taking a very small group ...
10/06/2026

There are some places you visit — and then there are places you experience.

This November, I’m taking a very small group of travelers to Morocco, and I would love for you to join me.

From November 22–December 2, we’ll spend 10 unforgettable days experiencing Morocco through the thing that has connected me to this country for more than 20 years: its food, its people, its markets, its traditions, and its extraordinary hospitality.

This isn’t a traditional group tour.

We’ll wander through ancient medinas, shop the souks, sit down to meals you would never find on a typical itinerary, cook with locals, discover the spices and ingredients that define Moroccan cuisine, and experience the country through the people who call it home.

And because food is how I understand the world, we are going to eat very, very well.

ONLY A FEW SPOTS LEFT!!!

If Morocco has been sitting on your bucket list, this may be the moment to stop saying “someday.”

November 22–December 2, 2026
🇲🇦 Small group — maximum 14 guests
🍴 A culinary journey personally hosted by me
🧿 Food, markets, culture, history and experiences beyond the usual tourist trail
❤️ Designed to feel intimate, personal and very special

You can see the full itinerary and trip details here:

tarakitchen.com/tara-journeys (https://www.tarakitchen.com/tara-journeys)

And if you’re interested but have questions about flights, walking, dietary restrictions, traveling solo, room arrangements — or anything else — simply reply to this email. I’m happy to talk with you personally.

I hope you’ll come experience Morocco with me.

Yallah — let’s go to Morocco! 🇲🇦
tarakitchen.com/tara-journeys (https://www.tarakitchen.com/tara-journeys)

Today was a really fun one. I was the lunch lady at Van Antwerp Middle school ❤️I got to cook and serve lunch at Van Ant...
10/05/2026

Today was a really fun one. I was the lunch lady at Van Antwerp Middle school ❤️

I got to cook and serve lunch at Van Antwerp Middle School in Niskayuna as part of my ongoing effort to bring more culinary diversity into our schools — and these kids did NOT disappoint. 😂

On the menu: my apricot & prune chicken (which I jokingly dubbed “Moroccan Barbecue”), jasmine rice, green beans with ras el hanout, and pita.

The kids absolutely LOVED it, which honestly made my day.

Huge thank you to Ross, the Culinary Director for Niskayuna School Districts, Niskayuna CSD for being so open to this collaboration and helping make it happen. Food is such an easy way to introduce kids to cultures, flavors and traditions they may not otherwise experience.

And this is just the beginning. I’m excited to do a lot more of this. 🇲🇦❤️

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Also from last night! ❤️A huge thank you to everyone who came out to support the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New ...
09/30/2026

Also from last night! ❤️

A huge thank you to everyone who came out to support the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York and the incredible work they do in our community.

I was so proud to be one of the participating chefs this year, even though I couldn’t be there in person. My dish — my take on a classic bastilla, made vegetarian with local New York produce — was beautifully executed by my always-there, no-matter-what chef Josh Gabri. I couldn’t be more proud of him!

Thank you to the Food Bank, all the chefs, volunteers, sponsors and, most of all, everyone who showed up and helped make the night such a success. ❤️

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There are a lot of ways to go to Morocco.You can book a tour.You can hire a guide.You can make a beautiful itinerary on ...
09/30/2026

There are a lot of ways to go to Morocco.

You can book a tour.

You can hire a guide.

You can make a beautiful itinerary on your own.

Or…

you can come with me.

ONLY A FEW SPOTS REMAINING!!!

For more than 20 years, Morocco has been at the heart of my food, my restaurants and a huge part of my life.

So when I decided to create this journey, I didn't want to simply show you the famous places.

I want to take you into my Morocco.

The food.
The markets.
The people.
The stories.
The places I love.

And yes… I promise we are going to eat VERY well. 😂

A Seat at Morocco's Table
November 22–December 2, 2026

If Morocco has been on your list for years, maybe this is the year you finally come.

I saved you a seat. 🇲🇦

tarakitchen.com/tara-journeys (https://www.tarakitchen.com/tara-journeys)

From tonight’s James Beard Foundation Patrons Reception ❤️Zoya told me I’m just as eccentric as James Beard himself 😂😂😂 ...
09/30/2026

From tonight’s James Beard Foundation Patrons Reception ❤️

Zoya told me I’m just as eccentric as James Beard himself 😂😂😂 I’m taking that as a compliment.

Such a beautiful evening. Thank you for having me, and thank you for continuing to support small businesses, immigrant stories, and the people who make the food industry what it is. ❤️
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Imagine settling into a sun-warmed Moroccan courtyard, surrounded by saffron, cinnamon, and wood smoke,with warm bread, ...
09/23/2026

Imagine settling into a sun-warmed Moroccan courtyard, surrounded by saffron, cinnamon, and wood smoke,
with warm bread, slow-cooked tagine, delicate pastilla, family-style couscous, and mint tea
poured high above your glass.

Around the table: laughter, stories, and people who were strangers just days before.

Then come the golden dunes, colorful markets, hidden riads, rugged Atlas Mountains, and late-night conversations that continue long after dinner.

This is A Seat at Morocco’s Table—11 unforgettable days with me and Muntasim, limited to 14 guests.

November 22–December 2, 2026

Once all 14 spots are reserved, this intimate
journey is full.

If Morocco has been on your travel list, now is the time to claim your place at the table.

Reserve your spot before someone else takes it. 😉

Come hungry.
Come curious.
Come ready to be welcomed in.

tarakitchen.com/tara-journeys (https://www.tarakitchen.com/tara-journeys)

Hello birdie! 😍::
09/21/2026

Hello birdie! 😍

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Fun activity!
09/14/2026

Fun activity!

Catch me today at 2:00pm on WAMC Northeast Public Radio :::
09/11/2026

Catch me today at 2:00pm on WAMC Northeast Public Radio

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25 years ago today, I was living in the West Village and working for Quad Graphics in Midtown in their imaging departmen...
09/11/2026

25 years ago today, I was living in the West Village and working for Quad Graphics in Midtown in their imaging department.

I remember that morning with an almost uncomfortable clarity. The first tower. The second tower. The chaos. The streets. The feeling in the air. And thinking, this is going to change the world.

It did.

It changed the world, and in ways I couldn’t possibly understand that day, it changed me too.

If someone had told me 25 years ago that one day I would own a restaurant in downtown Manhattan, in Tribeca, just blocks from where all of this happened, I would have thought they were crazy. And yet here I am.

Every time I walk out of Tara Kitchen and see the new World Trade Center, I am transported right back to that day. It still feels bizarre to me. And somehow, incredibly, beautiful too in the resilience this city continues to show.

This photograph feels like a strange full circle—the past, the present, and everything that happened in between.

I don’t have a profound lesson today. Just gratitude to be here. And remembrance for everyone who didn’t get the chance to see what came after.

25 years. I remember. ❤️‍🩹

Address

431 Liberty Street
Schenectady, NY
12305

Opening Hours

Tuesday 11:30am - 2pm
5pm - 8pm
Wednesday 11:30am - 2pm
5pm - 8pm
Thursday 11:30am - 2pm
5pm - 8pm
Friday 11:30am - 2pm
5pm - 8pm
Saturday 5pm - 8pm
Sunday 5pm - 8pm

Telephone

+15187083485

Website

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